Sparks residents’ outrage

Residents of Sector 19 in Kharghar are up in arms over an unauthorised weekly market that springs up every Saturday behind LM Hostel. The market disrupts traffic flow, creates noise pollution, and leaves streets littered with garbage, prompting urgent calls for intervention from local authorities.

Denis, a resident, expressed his frustration on social media platform X, saying, “Each Saturday, there is an unauthorised market behind LM Hostel at Sector 19, Kharghar. They occupy the road, create traffic issues and noise pollution, and dump garbage on the roads, dirtying the area. Please take action.”

He tagged relevant authorities, including @CIDCO_Ltd and @PanvelCorp, as well as local citizen-led handles like @VoiceOfKharghar and @KhargharCivic, urging them to address the issue.

A photograph from the scene captures the chaos: crowded streets filled with vendors selling clothes, footwear, vegetables, and fruits under makeshift stalls. Vehicles, including two-wheelers and carts, are seen haphazardly parked, blocking the road and further exacerbating traffic woes.

“The dim streetlights barely illuminate the area, and the overwhelming footfall and stalls make it almost impossible for regular commuters to pass through,” said Anuj Saxena, a Sector 19 resident. He added that the road, a key link for the neighborhood, is entirely taken over by vendors, causing traffic snarls. Vendors reportedly dump organic waste, such as onion peels, along with plastic bags, further worsening the unhygienic conditions.

Rachana Shah, another local resident, highlighted the noise levels and garbage accumulation. “The noise rises throughout the evening, and the next morning, garbage from the vendors is scattered all over the road,” she said. Many residents also pointed out that the area around LM Hostel is primarily residential, making the market’s presence a significant public nuisance.